The whole concept of the semi-annual time change is stupid. Why is it still a thing? Can we finally catch up to Saskatchewan’s proper way of thinking and a few other sane jurisdictions and just leave the clocks alone? And even though we have that extra hour this weekend, New Music Friday is a little light on new music. Oh, there are a lot of Christmas tunes out today, but that’s not really our jam, you know?
Singles
1. Jake Bugg, Never Said Goodbye (Arista)
Englishman Jake Bugg is back with his seventh album, one that is a little noisier and rockier than what he’s done of late. He says that the sound adjustment is the result of having seen so much social inequality in the UK. If you’re in need a song that rages against the machine in a carefully measured what, give this a shot.
2. Bartees Strange, Too Much (4AD)
Whenever I see a new release on the 4AD label, I’ll always give it a listen. Bartees was born in the UK but now lives in America (he also lived in Greenland for a time) where he was a member of a post-hardcore band called Stay Inside. He’s since gone solo with a couple of albums and EPs have included some interesting left-of-centre stuff such as this. Woozy and infectious. Cool haunted house video, too.
3. Melrose, Saw (Play Dead)
More music from Victoria, BC, this time from an emo two-piece. Samuel Wells, one-half of the band, spent 2018-to 2023 writing songs for this album, More Than a Body in a Glass, and is joined by partner Oliver Hollingshead. The result is a mix of emo tinged with folk, ambient, slowcore, and Canadian indie.
more than a body in glass by Melrose
4. Duff McKagan, Heroes (The Orchard)
Yes, this is the bass player of Guns N’ Roses. Yes, this is a cover of the David Bowie song. And yes, it’s pretty good. He got a great bass sound for this recording, too.
5. Seether, Walls Come Down (Fantasy/Concord)
Another single from the South African band’s ninth album, The Surface Seems So Far. Given that music with a 90s vibe is doing so well among younger listeners these days, Seether is sitting there waiting to be discovered by them.
Albums
1. The Cure, Songs of a Lost World (Fiction/Universal)
It’s been sixteen years since the last Cure album, but given the quality of this record–it is outstanding, the best Cure album since Disintegration–fans are happy having waited. From the sounds of it, Robert Smith was very, very sad those sixteen years and has poured his broken heart into the eight songs that appear here. And there’s more to come, too. Robert says the next album is virtually finished. If you’re so equipped, I recommend the Dolby ATMOS mixes available on the Blu-ray edition. Gorgeous.
2. The Fleshtones, It’s Getting Late (…and More Songs About Werewolves) (Yep Roc)
Anyone who loves American garage rock loves The Fleshtones. The band from Queens has been a going concert since–wait for it–1976–and are now up to their 20th album. It would have been nice if this record had been out in time for Halloween, but let’s bookmark things for next year. Love the organ in this single.
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